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Norwegian Forest Cat vs Turkish Van
A calm, large, thick-coated climber against a large, high-energy, water-loving cat with a cashmere-like coat; the energy level decides it.
Verdict
Both are large, thick-coated cats that need room to move. The thing that decides it is energy. The Turkish Van scores 5 for energy and for playfulness, is not a lap cat and is a poor fit for delicate ornaments. The Norwegian Forest Cat is steadier, friendlier with children and other pets, and copes better alone. Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat for a calm, easygoing family climber. Choose the Turkish Van for an athletic, clever cat in a roomy home with an owner who wants to play.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You want a calmer cat, with energy at 3 against 5.
- You have children or other pets; it scores 4 for both against 3.
- You are out for a workday; it scores 4 for independence against 3.
- You want a breed that is more widely available, listed as uncommon rather than rare.
Choose the Turkish Van if
- You want a very playful, very clever cat, scoring 5 for both.
- You do not need a lap cat; it scores 3 for affection.
- You prefer a coat with no undercoat that is short in summer.
- You have space for an athletic cat to climb and run.
Where they are alike
Both are large cats that score 2 for apartments, and both shed heavily at a score of 4. Each is a CFA championship breed, recognised in the 1990s.
Side by side
| Norwegian Forest Cat | Turkish Van | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Norway | Turkey; developed as a breed in the United Kingdom |
| Size | Large | Large |
| Typical weight | 9-16 lb (4-7.3 kg); males are larger | 7-20 lb (3.2-9 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | Commonly reported as 15 years or more | Typically 12-17 years |
| Coat length | Long | Medium |
| Coat | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail | Cashmere-like semi-long coat with no undercoat; short in summer, thick in winter |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1993 | Championship breed since 1994 |
| How common | Uncommon | Rare |
| Affection | 3 | 3 |
| Energy | 3 | 5 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 3 |
| Shedding | 4 | 4 |
| Good with children | 4 | 3 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 3 |
| Happy alone | 4 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 2 | 2 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Norwegian Forest Cat sheds heavily each spring, and people who react to cats usually react to it too. | — |
| Suits | A home with space and tall climbing that wants a friendly, steady, self-possessed cat and will comb it through the spring moult. | An active household with space that wants a strong, clever, playful cat and does not need it to sit on laps. |
| Less suited to | A small flat with little height to climb, or anyone who wants a clinging lap cat. | A small flat, a home with delicate ornaments, or anyone wanting a cat that enjoys being held. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026